Our Children's Songs With Illustrations

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SONGS FOR GIRLHOOD.		129

Or where, like those strange semblances we find That age to childhood bind, The elm puts on, as if in Nature's scorn, The brown of autumn corn. As yet the turf is dark, although you know That, not a span below, A thousand germs are groping through the gloom, And soon will burst their tomb.	But many gleams and shadows needs must pass Along the budding grass, And weeks go by, before the enamored South Shall kiss the rose's mouth. Still, there's a sense of blossoms yet unborn In the sweet airs of morn; One almost looks to see the very street Grow purple at his feet.



Already, here and there, on frailest stems, Appear some azure gems, Small as might deck, upon a gala-day, The forehead of a fay. In gardens you may note, amid the dearth, The crocus breaking earth; And near the snow-drop's tender white and green, The violet in its screen. 9	At times a fragrant breeze comes floating by, And brings, you know not why, A feeling as when eager crowds await Before a palace gate Some wondrous pageant; and you scarce would start If from a beech's heart A blue-eyed dryad, stepping forth, should say, " Behold me ! I am May !"